Auxiliary piano-pedal.



1 m m 3a.. a u 5 A Z d z 7% e m w% y J VIRGILLITO AUXILIARY PIANO PEDAL.

APPLIOATION FILED MAR 20 1909 Witnesses formers and teachers of the piano that the JOSEPH VIRGILLITO, OF NEW YORK, N. Y.

No. 981,6(52. specification of To all whom it may concern:

Be it knot. that i, Josnrn Vraeinrrro, a i citizen of the United residing at New York, in the county of ilev: Yorh and State of New York, have invented certain new and useful improvements in iiuxiliary Piano- Pedals, of which the following is a specmcation.

hrly invention relates to improvements in a combined foot-rest and pedal controller for pianos, and it consists in the constructions, combinations and arrangements herein described and claimed.

The object of my invention is to provide a combiner. foot-rest and pedal controller adapted to overcome the inconvenience and defects experienced by children and persons of small stature when performing on a piano.

It has been the general experience of peruse of the usual adjustable piano stool renders it impossible for children to acquire and maintain a proper position during practice on a piano; the elevation of the piano stool necessary for suitably placing a child relative to the keyboard renders the seat insecure and prevents all control of the piano pedals. With such an insecure and incorrect seat, it has been found impossible for child to maintain a proper position of the arms and hands while practicing, thereby causing many defects to creep into the system and preventing the acquirement of proper technique.

My invention provices a very efficient means for overcoming all of the above inconveniences and defects, and for supporting the performers feet in the usual natural position assumed by a player relative to the piano pedals.

In the accompanyin drawings, forming a part of this application and in which similar reference numerals indicate corresponding parts in the several views: Figure l is a side elevation, partly broken away, illustrating one embodiment of my invention; Fig. 2 is a front elevation of the construction shown in Fig. 1; Fig. 3 is a plan view of the construction shown in Fig. 1 with the upholster removed for clearness; 4 is a detail section, illustrating a modified construction, provided with means for adjusting the parts for accurately engaging pedals of various heights, Fig. 5 is a fragmentary elevation, showing a convenient means for securing my invention to the piano pedals; Fig. 6 is a de- I TVihTG-EEDAL.

i, a medmed co.

rods are provided f reven tn: accii) .iL

drawings, 1 indicates a foot-rest comprising an upholstered frame formed of side mem bers 2 connected by front and rear members 3 and 4; and an intermediate brace 5. A se ries of rods 6 are reciprocatingly mounted in recesses, or casings, in the front member 3, and provided with enlarged and preferably rounded lower ends 7 for engaging the upper surfaces of the piano iedals S. The lower ends of the casings 10 are shown provided with inwardly extending guide flanges; springs 9 being confined in the several casings between said flanges and collars 11 on the rods 6 for yieldingly maintaining the latter in their normal raised position. Treads 12 are carried at the upper ends of the rods 6 and inclined for convenient actuation by the performers feet when supported on the foot-rest in the natural position for actuating the piano pedals. As shown in Fig. 6, the portions of the several rods 6 below the collar 11 thereon can be formed square and extend through correspondingly shaped holes in the front member 3 for preventing accidental shifting or rotation of said. rods. The above described springs 9 cooperate with the usual pedal sprin 's for insuring a certain and prompt action of the rods 6, but such springs could be omitted if desired.

Fi 4- shows a modified construction, in which a casing 13 for containing the rod-actuating spring 14 is threaded, or otherwise adjustably mounted, in the front member 3 for adjusting the recs 6 accurately to piano pedals of various heights.

Fig. 5 illustrates a convenient means, such as .J-shaped clamp 16, for securing the enlarged rod ends 7 to a piano pedal; thereby enabling the rod-actuating spring to act positively for elevating said pedal.

1 have illustrated and described preferred and satisfactory constructions, but changes could be made within the spirit and scope of my invention.

Having thus described my invention, what 1 claim as new and desire to secure by Letters-Patent is:

1. in a device of the character described, the combination of a foot-rest, rods reciprocatingly mounted on said rest for engaging the pedals of a piano, springs engaging said rods for normally maintaining the latter in i said rods,

raised position, and means for shifting each of said rods simultaneously with its spring to accommodate piano pedals of various different heights, substantially as described.

2. In a device of the character described, the combination of a foot-rest, casings carried by said rest and provided with inwardly extending guide flanges at their lower ends, rods reciprocatingly mounted in said casings for engaging the pedals of a piano, collars on springs confined in said casings between said collars and guide flanges, and means for adjusting said casings for shifting the positions of said rods and springs, substantially as described.

In testimony whereof I afiix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

JOSEPH VIRGILLETO.

Witnesses G. Arnns, S. A. TERRY. 

